Pump



P. OWSEN Oct. 2, 1962 PUMP Filed April l5, 1959 IN VEN TOR. 0506's 7? n] Y El /Yffef United States Patent Utilice 3,056,538 PUMP Peter Owsen, Dearborn, Mich. (24307 Lyndon, Detroit 39, Mich.) Filed Apr. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 806,601 7 Claims. (Cl. 23d-2) This invention relates to pumps, and particularly to a pump having a variable control for the pressure of the delivered air.

Certain devices and structures require air at an accurate pressure to be delivered thereto so as not to be over inflated. A shoe having an inflatable sole is one structure which would require an accurate pressure, otherwise the soles would be hard and distorted, and the material thereof ruptured. This could also be true of inflatable pillows, mattresses, and the like where the proper degree of softness would be controlled by the pressure of air contained therewithin. While any type of pump can be employed with the pressure regulating device, a hand pump is herein illustrated having a chamber containing a plunger operated by a handle to produce a pressure of air when the plunger is moved forwardly. The air is forced under pressure out of an aperture and through the pressure regulating device of the end cap into a flexible tube and a valve stem connected to the device to be inflated. The pressure regulating device embodies a chamber having a passageway through which the back pressure from the delivered air contacts a seated ball which is retained in position by a length of spring wire with pressure on the ball Varied by bowing the Wire through the rotation of a cam ring. When suilicient pressurized air is present, the ball will be raised from its seat against the force of the spring wire and air will escape to atmosphere through an opening having a reed therein which produces an audible sound to apprise the operator that the desired pressure is contained within the device. A switch, valve or other device could be actuated by the escaping air to provide a signal for operating other elements. An adjacent chamber through which air passes to atmosphere has a ball therein which moves forward to seal the aperture of the passageway to atmosphere upon the forward stroke of the pump piston to prevent a surge of air from passing by the ball to atmosphere and giving a false signal. It is upon the return stroke of the piston and the impinging of the back pressure of the delivered air on the ball that the pressure regulating device operates, and notice thereof is given by the sounding of the reed or the operation of some other device. It is to be understood that the pressure regulating portion of the hand pump herein illustrated may be applied to a foot, motor operated, or other type of pum-p, for measuring the back pressure of the delivered air.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a pump with a variable pressure regulating device by which the pressure of the delivered air may be indicated; to provide a pressure regulating device on a pump which is adjustable to require changes in pressure to produce indication, such as the operation of a reed by the escaping air; to provide a pressure regulating device with a valve which communicates with the air in the device in which the pressure of air is to be measured, retained in place by a spring, the tension of which is varied to increase the pressure required to open a valve; and, in general, to provide a simple, rugged and positively operated pressure regulating device from which a signal is obtained to indicate when the desired amount of pressure has been attained.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a broken sectional view of a pump embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l taken on the line 2-2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. l taken on the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a reduced view in elevation of the pump illustrated in FIG. l, as viewed from the top of the sheet; and

FIG. 5 is a broken view, with parts in section, showing the pressure regulating device as applied to a foot type of pump.

Referring to FIGS. 1 -to 4, a hand pump is illustrated having a cylinder 10 provided with an end cap 11 Secured thereto by adhesive means, which may be solder if the parts are made of metal, or a resin when the parts are made of resin material as herein illustrated. The cylinder has a threaded plug 12 screwed into the opposite end, the plug having a central aperture 13 through which a hollow piston rod 14 extends having an operating handle 15 secured to the outer end thereof. The inner hollow end of the piston rod 14 has a plug 16 secured therein by a pin 17 which extends through a backup ring 18 extending therearound. The plug 16 has a head 19 of truncated conical shape which clamps a cup-shaped washer 21 of leather or other material against the backup ring 18. A washer 22 of `spring material has a plurality of downwardly extending fingers 23 for urging the flange of the cup-shaped washer 21 against the inner surface of the cylinder 10. A sponge rubber washer 24- is placed over the piston rod 14 `and against the back-up ring 18 for the purpose of cushioning the outward movement of the ring 13 against the plug 12. The plug 12 has a plurality of apertures 2S extending therethrough for permitting air to breathe inwardly and outwardly of the adjacent portion of the cylinder as the piston moves upwardly and downwardly therewithin.

When the piston is moved forwardly, the air compressed thereahead will pass out through an aperture 26 through the cap 11 into a chamber 27 containing a ball 28. The chamber 27 is bisected by a sleeve 29 which is press fitted into an aperture and which is provided with a passageway 31 longitudinally of its length communicating with the chamber 27 through an aperture 32 located centrally thereof. The end of the aperture 32 forms a seat for the ball 28 which is forced thereon bv the pressurized air ahead of the advancing piston. This prevents the air from building up a high pressure within the passageway 31 and causes it to pass outwardly from the chamber 27 into a flexible tube 34, which is secured to the sleeve end 3S of the cap 11 by a squeezed, cup-shaped element 36. A similar element 36 secures the opposite end of the tube 34 to a hollow valve unseating element 37 which lrotatably supports a sleeve 33 having internal threads, which is screwed upon the thread of a valve body 39.

The pressure regulating device embodies a rotatable cuplike element 41 secured on a shoulder portion d2 of the stem 3S by the securing element 36. A truncated conical flange 43 contains a plurality of indicia 44 which move relative to an indicating arrow 45 to indicate the pressure obtained after turning the cup-shaped element 41 by the knurled end 46 thereof. The open end of the passageway 31 through the sleeve 29 is closed by a ball 47 urged downwardly against the end seat by a length of spring wire 48 which rests within a slot 49 in the stern portion of the cap. Pressure is applied to the center of the spring wire 48 by a cam element 51 in engagement with a roller 52 at the center of the spring strip 48 within a radial slot 53. The cam element 51 is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2 as being washer-like in shape having diametrically extending ngers 54 which project into slots 55 in the rotatable element 41. The cam element 51 rotates with the element 41 and the internal cam surface 56 in engagement with the roller 52, bows the spring element 48 and controls the pressure on the ball 47. The change in the force of the spring 43 applied to the ball 47 changes the pressure of air within the passageway 31 required to unseat the ball which thereby controls the amount of pressure which will be retained by `the element attached to the stem 39.

Upon the upstroke of the piston 14, the ball 28 is unseated permitting the air within the element attached to the stem 39 to enter the aperture 32 and passageway 31 and impinge upon the ball 47. -If the pressure of this air is sufficient, the ball will unseat and the air will escape from the slot 49 and will pass through the aperture 57 in the element 41. A reed 58 in the aperture 57 will be vibrated by the escaping air, and will produce a tone which will indicate to the operator that the air within the element attached to lthe stern 39 has attained the right amount of pressure. It will be seen that substantial pressure can be applied to the ball 47 by the end of the spring wire 48 when the central portion is deflected, the degree of which may be calibrated for different angular positions of the cup-shaped element 41.

In FIG. 5, a foot pump is illustrated having a cylinder 61, a piston rod 62 and a piston 63 which are similar to those of the hand pump of FIGS. l to 4, but being of greater length and possibly of greater diameter to have a greater capacity. The bottom of an arcuate base portion 64 rests upon the ground, and a roughened, exposed area 65 receives the foot of the operator to hold the pump securely in place while it is being operated. An air passage 66 from the cylinder to the ilexible tube 34 passes through a pressure regulating device 67 which is the same as that described above with regard to the hand pump illustrated in FIGS. l to 4. An audible sound is produced on the upstroke of the piston 63 when the pressure in the tube 34 has reached a predetermined amount. This provides the indication referred to above to apprise the operator that the required pressure has been reached within the device to which the tube 34 is connected. Instead of the reed, a switch, valve or other element may be operated to provide a signal when the air is escaping from the aperture 57.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway disposed transversely across said rst passageway and having a third passageway on the axis of the rst passageway in communication with said rst and second passageways and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, a ball for sealing said second passageway, a support, a spring rod having one end engaging said last ball and the opposite end resting on said support, and cam means engaging said rod interjacent its ends for varying the deflection thereof and the pressure on the ball and the required air pressure to unseat it.

2. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway disposed transversely across said rst passageway and having a third passageway on the axis of -the rst passagewayin communication with said iirst and second passageways and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, a

ball for sealing said second passageway, a support, a spring rod having one end engaging said last ball and the opposite end resting on said support, and cam means engaging said rod interjacent its ends for varying the deection thereof and the pressure on the ball and the required air pressure to unseat it, said cam means being washerlike in shape and having an internal cam surface of progressively radial thickness, and a roller on said rod with which the cam surface engages.

3. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway disposed transversely across said first passageway and having a third passageway on the axis of the rst passageway in communication with said first and second passageways and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, a -ball for sealing said second passageway, a support, a spring rod having one end engaging said last ball and the opposite end resting on said support, cam means engaging said rod interjacent its ends for varying the deection thereof and the pressure on the ball and the required air pressure to unseat it, said cam means being washerlike in shape and having an internal cam surface of progressively radial thickness, a roller on said rod with which the cam surface engages, a cup-shaped rotatable element secured to said cylinder about the second said ball and sleeve for supporting said washer-like cam means, said cup-shaped element containing an opening, and a reed in said opening vibrated by the escaping air from said second` passageway when said second ball is unseated therefrom for producing an audible sound.

4. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway open at one end and disposed transversely across said rst passageway and having a third passageway on the axis of the first passageway in communication with said first and second passageway`s\and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, a ball for sealing the openl end of said sleeve and said second passageway, -a support;` a spring rod having one end engaging said last ball and the opposite end resting on said support, cam means engaging said rod interjacent its ends for varying the pressure on the ball and the required air pressure to unseat it, a flexible tube at the end of said closure, and a valve unseating element on the opposite end of said tube.

5. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway open at one end and disposed transversely across said first passageway and having a third passageway on the axis of the rst passageway in communication with said rst and second passageways and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, a ball for sealing the open end of said sleeve and said second passageway, a support, a spring rod having one end engaging said last ball and the opposite end resting on said support, carri means engaging said rod interjacent its ends for varying the pressure on the ball and the required air pressure to unseat it, a flexible tube at the end of said closure, and a valve unseating element member on the opposite end of said tube, said closure containing a ground contacting pontion of suicient 4length to be engageable by the foot of the operator.

6. In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for the pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, and a sleeve containing an axial passageway traversing said rst passageway and having an exterior diameter less than that of the first passageway, said sleeve having a third passageway on the axis of the rst passageway in communication with said rst and second passageways and facing the ball in position to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston.

7. -In a pump, a cylinder, a piston within said cylinder having a piston rod thereon extending from 'the operating end of the cylinder, a closure for t-he pressure end of the cylinder, said closure having a passageway and a ball seat, a ball within said passageway for engaging said seat upon the return stroke of the piston, a sleeve containing an axial passageway traversing said first passageway and having an exterior diameter less than that of the rst pas sageway, said sleeve having a third passageway on the axis of the rst passageway in communication with said first and second passageways and facing the ball in posiftion to be sealed thereby during the advance stroke of said piston, said closure having an opening through which the escaping air from said second passageway passes to atmosphere, and signal means in said opening operated by said escaping air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,455,646 Millard May 15, 1923 1,649,530 Holsinger Nov. 15, 1927 1,941,249 Crowley Dec. 26, '1933 1,998,903 McMillan Apr. 23, 1935 2,722,370 Owsen Nov. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,065 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1930 `378,576 Italy Feb. 16, 1940 638,985 France June 8, 1928 

